Paula Bennett on her pig present in Solomon Islands

Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett says she was taken aback when a live pig was carried into a welcoming ceremony in Honiara and placed before her and other leaders.

Bennett and other leaders were on stage at the ceremony to mark the end of the 14-year Ramsi mission.

She was welcomed with a shell necklace and gave the local girl who presented it a kiss in return.

A large pig was brought out and placed on the ground before being carried back after the ceremony, to be killed and eaten at the official dinner.

Afterward Bennett said she had been slightly worried it would be killed in front of her.

"I thought it was dead. I was sitting there and then I heard it squealing and I then had visions of perhaps it meeting its demise as were sitting on the stage. I"m kind of pleased that didn't happen."

Cultural groups from around the Solomon Islands performed in front of a large crowd of locals, before green bananas and other food was placed before the stage.

The live pig offering brought to the welcoming ceremony. Photo / Nicholas Jones

Earlier, the leaders were told children in the Solomons were named Ramsi, such was the success of the operation.

Other leaders at the ceremony included Samoa's Prime Minister and Australia's Governor-General.